Literacy is
basic life skill

It’s sadly ironic when so much is said about making sure every student has the ability to go to college when 20 percent of the adults in Columbus County either can’t read or have great trouble reading.

A group of dedicated volunteers works tirelessly to help those who are trying to overcome this great obstacle, but these volunteers have a great obstacle as well – a lack of financial support.

Last week, Columbus County Literacy volunteers appeared before the county commissioners asking for a resolution seeking more resources from the General Assembly.

The Literacy Council operates on a shoestring budget. It gets mostly small donations to continue operating.

Volunteers say they would find a way to continue tutoring non-readers even if they had no money, but more could be done if they had more resources.

Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent to educate students ages K-12, but what of the man or woman who wants to get their life together and learn how to read?

Reading is one of the most basic life skills. Giving a man the ability to read is worth far more than giving him handouts of thousands of dollars.

Being a literacy volunteer is not a “sexy” cause. The job requires long hours, conviction and patience to help someone learn to read.

We urge the General Assembly to support literacy councils across the state. The impact of turning just one non-reader in a functioning member of society has not only has immediate rewards, but rewards in subsequent generations as well.